Feather-renovating apparatus



Oct. 28, 1930. J. c. BRUBAKER I FEATHER RENOVATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1926 Patented Oct. 28, 1930 MEN 0. BEUBAKER,

" STATES- j v I 1,179392 PATE r DFFICEJ f CASWELL, on Los anenmsfcemnonma FEATHERRENQVATINGAPPARATUSI r Applieation filed August 9, n; s n ing 128 23,;

This invention relates to apparatus for renovating feathers.

sometimes used for years 1 ithout being cleaned, and the feathers" become very dirty and unsanitary. It is the present; practice to remove such feathers, from timfito time from the pillows or mattresses and clean the 7 same; The object ofthis invention is'to.pro

vide a siniple apparatus for effecting the.

renovation cleaning and-sterilizing of such feathers. r .1 7

One of the objects of the invention isvto provide an apparatus which will have sufiicient. capacity to fperiorm the renovating operation upon a large scale, thatis to say; which will enable large quantities of feathers to be treated and renovated Within a short time. 1 i

Another obj ectof' the invention is to provide an apparatus of this-kind in which the feathers can be handled la-rgelyby pneumatic means; I U a .J

One of the objects of the invention is to provi de means for steaming the feathers Without imparting too much moisture to them, there.- by producing a finfi yeiiect in the feathers.

' A further object of the I invention is to provide renovating apparatus constructed in un ts,- fac i at gt r n vating .Qf h tee hersin batches'thatisrto sa.y, rto"provi de appa ratuswhieh will enable the feathers of each o yder; or consignment to be treated .independm ly a d W th t im ing th samefiwith other feathers. I 1 .Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel'palrts' and combination of" parts to. be described hereinafter, all-oii which contribute to pro.- dnce" an efficient feather renovating apparatus. t we A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, While the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in'the'appended claims.

In the drawing; I v r Figure l is a side elevation of arenovating apparatns embodying.myinventiona It isa' fact that pillows and mattresses'stufi'ed with feathers areonthelin'e 246i Fig. 1;

on Los A'NGELES, CALIFORNIA, nssienon on ONE-HALF mo p. n. 3

F g r s a vertical secti n. takenab'e 7 first be t n or agitatedsbi to rem v an di t chaff a h r ng 0 hem; ft thisis ac pli ed, the f f lt rs ar then sterili by's bj fi -tl m t the action of st am,

P f rably steamand hot a uniilta i nsly fa fter the stc lili zin op rl kt .nfthe shouldbe dried. apparatus. for acco n wish ng this s preferably g n meed 6f '7 u its, ea h unitbe ngronstructed SQ thatitis tapabl pe fer ing anyf t e Ope ti 0 h e hers lnddi -iontoth ieth 7 unit ar 'sonne' te iip by Pn umat c systeni so that'th'el feathers can be handled 90111- I pl ely through, th a'g ney of pn umatic d cts br; nines! hen m b as man units as de d 7 1 1i.-e' r e" t edrating, w ich illust at n e iib im ht flmyappar tu indicat s and lh s'euni s are s bs a tiallywe iii verna secti n in Fig- 2;]: Ea h u ne s s an l ngat d a ing riiinethr' iiinit 2 3.

of a holder for tliefie'ath ers ,preferably in the ormf a 1.1 a d th d um th e is m u n agita r n. th fo m of a be te a ri n a Qta -able'e a 7- Thi 'b ter 6 hasa plnra'lity'of substantiallyradialarn s e y scro s-bars QI ats 8 Which sti up he f at r Within th 1 1 and "ke p them agitated. H v it I 1 Ea m s p o ided wi h a jackets: to

enabl t sam to b h ghly .heat The a i mpa te to th -i t r et the jac h ough a steam. 0 11.10 correspond ng to each unit and provided with its orrespondring valve 1 f r controll ng he flonnf steam to it. 3 l I Each holder is provided with a handefilling pen ng (s ig-.2) c d by a over 3 which may be he d c osed by means of fasten; ing bolts with ing nuts 14} At the'botl' Qin 15 of each. unit, a glitter or pocket 16 provided, and in. this pocket the dirt or chaff accumulates when the feathers are being cleaned. This pocket is closedby a swinging door 17 which may be opened at will to Pe m t t e d ne-1 s l fi nT he P'oeket to descend into a receiver 18. This receiver is connected with a pneumatic pipe 19' which leads to a suction fan 20that carries off the chafi and dirt and delivers the same into a bin 21. c a

Each r unite is provided with an outlet 22 disposed on its upper side, and this outlet is preferably in the form of a suction hood 23 connected to a'suction fan, so that air within the drum can be drawn upwardlythrough a screened opening, that is to say, through an opening provided with a screen 24. This screen is preferably in the form of a slide 25 which can be withdrawn when desired to clean the same (see Fig. 2).

' I provide means for subjecting thefeathers to the action ofsteam and hot air simultane- 'ously. 'F or this purpose, at one side of each unitI provide an air box 26. Each jair box is provided with'a horizontal steam pipe 26",

havingperforations27 on its inner side The flow of steam through these individual steam pipes is controlled by individual valves28 (see llig. 1), which admit steam from the steam supply pipe-29.

- When the steam is admitted to the interior of the drum through the perforations 27, I also admit hot air to the, air. bOX. This air is preferably drawn into the. air box through an air pipe 30 corresponding to each air box. These'pipes3O lead from the jacket space .j,9

of each unit, which is highly heated by the steam coils. In'this way, the air whioh is drawn into the, air boxes is highly heated. The function of the heated air islt-o enable the steam-toysterilize the feathers without producing condensation of moisture upon them; In this way, although the feathers are sterilized, they are maintained'ina'flufl'y condition, The escaping steam draws the air into the drum through the air box.

I shall now describe the pneumatic system by means of which the feathers maybe intro duced into the different units and moved from anylunitk to any other unit. In this connection, it should be understood. that at times it may be desiredto perform different operations of cleaning, sterilizing and drying inthe'different unitsin siiccessioininstead of carrying out the three operations in one unit. In order to supply the feathers to the different 11111135 by pneumatic means,"I provide each unit with an inlet 32 (see'Fig. 2) ,.'and

these inlets'are all connected to a trunk '33 connected with the delivery side of a blower fan 34. The feathers may be admitted into a suction nozzle 35 .ca'rried'at the upper end of a vertical pipe 36 which leads down and is connected by a branch 37 tofthe; suction side of the blower 34. When the valve 38 in this pipe 36is opened and'the nozzle 35 introduced into pillow or mattress containing feathers, thesuction will dr'a'w-the fea thers down the pipej'36 and through the fan 34 and throughthe trunk 33. Each of the pipes 32 'ing to each unit. I These outlets 48 connectto space over the coils is provided with a valve 39, and by closing or opening the valves 39, the feather-carrying current of air can be directed into any one or all of the units. 'At thesame time that V the current of air carrying the feathers is directed into the units, air is withdrawn from the units through the suction hoods 23. This isaccomplished by means of a suction fan 40 connecting to a suction trunk 41, from which theisu'ction pipes22 branch off. This suction trunk 41 is provided with valves 42 and similar valves43 areprovided in the suction pipes 22. By closing and opening these valves,a1r can-be withdrawn from any one or-all of the hoods 23.

, The pneumatic system also aifords means for moving the feathers from one unlt to anotherunit; In order to accomplish this, each unit isprovided with an outlet 44 at its under side (seeFigQ'2), closed by a door 45 controlled by a lever46 and a'link 47. When these doors 45 are opened, they will permit a current of air to flow out through the. drum and through a suction outlet 48 corresponda main or trunk 49 (see Fig. 1), and adjacent each of the pipes 48 the trunk 49 is provided with valves 50 which may be manipulated so as to enable suction to be developed through any one or all of the outlets 44. This suction main or trunk 49 connects tothe suction inlet 37 of the blower 34 and may be cut oif from the same by a valve 51. Evidently,

and up through the jackets 9 by'means of an exhaust fan 31 withbr anch pipes 31, 31, 31, leading tot; trunk 31 fromthe individual jackets and provided with valves 31 for controlling the same. Thisair is admitted to the through an inlet opening10 Sometimes it may be desired to reverse the direction of flow of air through the entire system. In. order to enable this to be accomplished at will, I attach the end of the trunk 33 to the delivery side of a blower fan 55, which maybe driven by a belt 56, and pro vided with a suction inlet 57 opening from a the atmosphere.

After the treatment of the feathers is completed in the apparatus, they may be delivered through a delivery pipe 58 at a station 59, wherethey can be returned to the pillows or mattress from which they were removed.

This pi e may be provided with its 'indi-e vidual'valve 60,'whichenables it to'b e cut off at will fromfthe; trunk 33/ a a'Referrin'g againto the construction at the air'boxes 26, eachof these air boxes'is provided with a cover 61 which forms the outer end of a drawer 62. T hisdrawer at its inner] end carries a screen 63 which is located'nea'r the inner face of the'wall of. the drum and excludes the feathers from the air box. The body of this screen may be about on a line with the axis of the steampipe-26 andit may have a'pocke't'aroundthe rear side of the pipe. ;This enables the screen to be brought nearer to the inner face of the drum.

" In operating the'apparatusfthefeathers may be completely treated in oneunit or-they maybe treated'in succession in the; different.

door 13. However, if desired, the feathers may be supplied to any one of the units by the pneumatic system, In this case, the} feathers are drawn out of the pillow or mate tress by the nozzle'35 and passed down the suction pipe 36 and through the branch 37 into the blower fan 34. If it is desired to deliver feathers into the left-hand unit a through its pipe 32, the valve 39 corresponding to this pipe will be opened and the adjacent valves 52 in the trunk 33 will be closed. This will cause the current carrying the feathers to flow down the pipe 32'which corresponds to the left unit and will deliver the feathers into the interior of the drum (see Fig. 1). ,At the same time, the suction fan 40 should be operated so asto create a suction in the trunk 41. The valves 42 in this trunk 41 should be closed and the valve 43 opened which corresponds to the hood 23 of the first unit. In this way, the action-ofthe current carrying the feathers into the'funit is assisted by withdrawing the air within the unit through the screen 24. In the same way, by properly setting the valves of the pipe System, feathers can be delivered from any renovatorunit into any other unit.

s In the treatment of the feathers, they are first cleaned while being agitated by the heaters 6, the dirt from them accumulating in the trough or pocket 16. When the door 17 is opened, and suction exerted-in the suci tion pipe '19, this dirt or chaff will be withdrawn by the suction fan 20 and delivered into a bin 21. Suitable means, not illustrated, may be provided for latching the stems 47 in the closed and open position of the door 45.

After being cleaned, the feathers may be withthe agitator and it is 15111 51 feather I of druin,-a rotary agitator for; the feathers sterilized in the same unit or removed 'by the .pneuinaticsystem to-the nextunit for v sterilizing. The sterilizing is accomplished by thesteam admitted through the ,pipe'26,

and at the same time hot air: isdrawn-in through the air. boxes 26 through the pipes- 30."; The airpassing-through the pipes 30) .e v is first heated by passing through the j acket' space 9.

After being sterilized, the feathers may be diiedf n 'the'sa neunit, or reinoved for drying to the next un t by the pneumatic means.

When. drying them, they are agitatedin the drum whilethe" drum; is maintained in a heated state by its corresponding steam coil;

The feathers are handled" in batches, each batch'for order"being treated in one of the units and kept separated from other batches that are being treated.

In cleaning" the feathers, wl1ile'-"thechaff is collecting in the gutter 16, suction is maintained through the ho'od 23 1 to carry off the dustthat is being removed \fi'om the' feathers. "It will be noted that the pneumatic meansfor; with drawing the'feathers' from the drum operates independently of the agitator. That 1s"tosay, itiis not mechanically rconnected 1 driven independently of theagitator.

- The air which passes into the-renovator is not merely permltted to" flowfin, but is {injlected' from the eXter-io'rm I Itisnnde'rStOod that theembodiment of the inventiondescribed'herein is only one the 'inany embodiments this invention may tak'e 'fa' nd I do-not wishSto':be'limitedin the I practice of the inventiom nor in the claims, tothe particular embodiment setforth. 1 I claim 1 I renovator,"the combinationmounted withinthe drum, said drum having an finletfor 1 the feathers andhaving 1 a screened outlet, means for driving the rotary agitator, median-st fan 'fOr'withdraWing air through, the screened outlet to draw feathers intotlie drum :throiighfthe said nlet, and ineansfor driving theexhaust fan-independ- 2; In feather;renovating apparatus,the

conibinatioirofa'druni having-asuetion hood I over the same, a screen associatedwith the hood, agitating means in the dru'm, m'eans for Withdrawiiigairl from the through the hood iand screen, means for driving said last-named means independently of "the agiy tator, and "mean-s for' adrnitting a current; of air carryln g feathers into the drum} '3; In feather renovating apparatus, the v combination, of a plurality ofholders for" feathers, suction pipes connecting with the upper sides of said holders andhavi'ng a'sucticn'fan connected therewith-to withdraw' air from any of the said holders,'valves"i the said suction pipes enablingthe suction to'be exerted atanyone of-the said holdersg and inlet pipes withivalvestfor controlling the same to. admit currents of aircarrying-feathers'to anyone of the said holders. 5 a 1 1 4:. Infeather renovating apparatus, the combination; of a plurality of holders, screened hoods corresponding to the differ ent=holders,' suction pipes leading-fromthe said hoods with a suction fan for withdrawing air through tl1e"screens,-valves asociated with the pipes to enable thelsuction to be 'eX- ertedthrough any one of the -hoods,delivery V pipes leading to the different holders with a blower for forcing an air current carrying feathers into thedifferentholders, and valves associated withfthe last-named pipes to enable cthe featherecarrying;current to be directed into anyone of the holders while the suction is exerted through its hood;

' 5. In feather renovating apparatus, a drum for the feathers', an agitator for thefeathers within the drum, an air-boX at the side of the drum, a'fsteam-pipe extending through the air-box andhavingperforations for admitting steam into the interior cof'the drum, a drawer inthe a r-box having a coverfor closmg the same and having a screen at its inner combination of a feather renovator having a; pair of drums-to receive; the feathers, tating means in each drum, ieach f said drums having an outlet for; the feathers with adoor corresponding to each; outlet, atrunk connected with the said outlets,ia wblower having its suctionside connected w th the said trunk, trunk connected with the blast side of tl esaidblower,and having apair fof branches. connected withj the said ,d r u ms, lv s n am a nam dt nk e aid branches,;;an d valves associated with the first nanied trunk correspondinglto the said outs end fitting aroundthe said pipe so as to e v clude feathers from the-interior of the airboX, and means for admitting hot air to "the interior of the air b0x. V r

' 6. In feather renovating apparatus, the combination of a holder for the feathers in the form' of a drumhaving, a jacketspace" over its upper side, heating means removed from the jacket space, and means for forcing air- ,over the heating means and thence through the jacket toheat thedrum.

7 In feather renovating apparatus the i combination of a holder for therfeathers in the form of a drum having a jacket space over v its upper side, heating meansremoved from the jacket space, neansfor forcing air over the; heating means and through the jacket to heat the drum, and means for injecting steam and hot air to the interior of the drum. v 1 i ,8. In: apparatus of the kind described, the conibination-ofa; feather renovator having a plurality of drums to rec eive the feathers,

agitating means in the drums, each of said drums having an outlet for the feathers, with a 'door' corresponding .to each outlet, a trunk connected with the saidoutlets, a blower having its-suctionside connect'edwith the said trunk, a trunk connected with the blast side 7 r of the said blower and having aplurality of branches connecting t with the said drums.

'valves in saidlast named trunk and said branches, and valvesassociated with the first named trunk corresponding to the said outl.ets,visaid valves "cooperating to enable the V blower to withdraw feathers from any one of said drums and deliver the same to anyother of said-drums, 

